"Dementia end of life patient with a blocked catheter"

The ECCH community nurse team was called because my father's catheter was not draining, a person came to the care home, but as they did not introduce theirself I cannot confirm if they were a trained nurse or HCA.

I asked were they a district nurse which they claimed they were. They flushed my dad's catheter with a bladder washout and then said the reason it didn't drain back was because he was dry. I wasn't convinced with this answer so they called the office, I asked who they were speaking to on the phone, if it was it the doctor, they answered that is was the hub, they are very experienced.

The person from the hub advised push fluids. I asked if this person was a trained nurse and how could they assess my father remotely over the phone. They responded that they are very experienced, and they sit next to a nurse. I was not happy with this plan, as it was clearly unsafe, they became defensive and said they're not putting up with this and walked out. They returned a few minutes later with a plan that a nurse would come out and scan his bladder to see if it was full.

Thankfully a trained district nurse did come a few hours later and changed my dad's blocked catheter which drained 1000mL, his catheter was blocked and if we had took the first advice, he would have ended up with an acute kidney injury and in much discomfort and distress. 

If I had not been insistent and a bit knowledgeable, I would have been fobbed off and my father left. It is very concerning that there is a lack of knowledge, skills and training of people making decision which are wrong and potentially catastrophic consequences.